Widespread detection of highly pathogenic H5 influenza viruses in wild birds from the Pacific Flyway of the United States

• DOI: 10.1038/srep28980
• Publication Date: 2016-07-06T09:14:05Z
• Authors: S. N. Bevins; R. J. Dusek; C. L. White; T. Gidlewski; B. Bodenstein; K. G. Mansfield; P. DeBruyn; D. Kraege; E. Rowan; C. Gillin; B. Thomas; S. Chandler; J. Baroch; B. Schmit; M. J. Grady; R. S. Miller; M. L. Drew; S. Stopak; B. Zscheile; J. Bennett; J. Sengl; Caroline Brady; H. S. Ip; E. Spackman; M. L. Killian; M. K. Torchetti; J. M. Sleeman; T. J. Deliberto
• Keywords: Flyway; Highly pathogenic

Abstract A novel highly pathogenic avian influenza virus belonging to the H5 clade 2.3.4.4 variant viruses was detected in North America late 2014. Motivated by identification of these domestic poultry Canada, an intensive study initiated conduct surveillance wild birds Pacific Flyway United States. total 4,729 hunter-harvested were sampled and 1.3% (n = 63). Three subtypes isolated from birds, H5N2, H5N8, H5N1, representing wholly Eurasian lineage H5N8 two reassortant viruses. Testing 150 additional during morbidity mortality investigations Washington yielded 10 (6.7%) isolates (H5N8 3 H5N2 7). The geographically widespread detection apparently healthy waterfowl suggest that may behave similarly this taxonomic group whereby many species are susceptible infection but do not demonstrate obvious clinical disease. Despite findings waterfowl, has been documented for some bird losses US first half 2015 unprecedented.